Writer: Vittorio Parravano
2 min read January 2023 — Cannabis startups in New Jersey are another step closer to receiving business support after Jersey City cannabis attorney Jessica Gonzalez and her law firm Veridis Quo LLC were selected by The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) to lead and represent an assistance program and training academy, according to a recent press release.
NJBAC and Gonzalez will provide technical assistance, training and mentorship to recreational cannabis license applicants who are looking to enter a highly competitive market. The program aims to teach startup entrepreneurs from underprivileged communities how to apply for licensing, financial plan development, legal procedures and other dynamics attached to the state’s evolving recreational cannabis industry.
“We’re excited to take the next step to make New Jersey’s Cannabis Training Academy a reality for applicants in the social equity, legacy, Impact Zone, diverse-owned and microbusiness categories,” said NJBAC Executive Director Melanie Willoughby.
Gonzalez has long advocated for the legalization of cannabis and has served as a leader in numerous national cannabis organizations including the International Cannabis Bar Association, Minorities for Medical Marijuana and the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s policy committee.
Last year, the state of New Jersey formally legalized the recreational sale of cannabis in multiple dispensaries with the hope of mitigating the effects, and cost, of the war on drugs. Legalization of the psycho-active substance came in 2021, but dispensaries were allowed to begin processing transactions in April of last year, according to Forbes.
READ MORE: Reducing inequality and increasing economic opportunity through cannabis
Since then, the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission tallied $116.5 million in sales from July to September of this year, as cited by NJ.com.
The state’s efforts to build up the cannabis industry have been robust over the past year. Last month, The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced the launch of the Cannabis Equity Grant Program, which will make up to $10 million available in state funding for applicants in need of assistance for early-stage expenses and technical training.
“The establishment of the Cannabis Equity Grant Program will help aspiring small business owners meet start-up expenses in a pivotal sector within our state’s ever-growing economy. Most importantly, the program will erode considerable barriers to access for communities of color, which this program will help to equip with the resources they need to not just enter, but thrive, in this exciting new industry,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a press release.
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